Question

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah 

In an early input, you explained that there are three speeds in reciting the Qur'an. But I don't remember the English translation of the terms you used for the three speeds. Could you please remind me of the English translation and possibly the interpretation (why each term is given to its corresponding speed)?  

I have an idea of the word "tahqiiq" for the slow reading, which seems to derive from haqq, or truth. "Tadwiir "(for the high speed) also might be from circling, rounding, etc. But what about "hadr" (the speed in between)? If an interpretation is difficult to make, you may simply suggest a translation of each term with an English word or phrase.

Answer

Wa alaikumu-ssalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuhu. 

It was an oversight on our part not to put the meaning of each word. 

 The slowest reading is derived from the verb  a four letter root (the shaddah counts as two letters), meaning to carry out, fulfill, actualize.  In the noun form, which is what  is, it then means carrying out, fulfillment, actualization, also verification.  We think the reason for the use of this word is self explanatory, for verily the reader who reads with  carries out, fulfills, and actualizes all the tajweed rules, and gives every letter its complete and full right in characteristics.   

 The in between speed of reading comes from the verb  meaning operate, run, move.  In its noun form it then means operating, running, moving, so we understand from the term that the reader is moving quickly along in his reading, but not racing. 

  The quickest speed in reading, seems to come from a verb that has one of its meanings to read quickly.  One of the definitions of the verb in reading in the dictionary is to read rapidly, rattle in reading, although the usual definition not applied to reading is: slant, slope, drop, descend. 

These three terms were used by Imam Al-Jazaree, the famous scholar of tajweed and qira’aat, who died, may Allah be merciful to him, in 833 al-Hijarah.